Data Without Borders: Highlights from International Data Week 2025

WDS Endorses ISC Statement: Safeguarding International Scientific Collaboration for Climate Action 

The World Data System (WDS) Scientific Committee is proud to announce its endorsement of the recent statement issued by the International Science Council (ISC) and its Affiliated Bodies, “Safeguarding and Enhancing International Scientific Collaboration for Climate Action.” This call to action urges governments, funders, and the global research community to maintain strong support for international scientific research and collaboration in addressing climate change—one of humanity’s most pressing and complex challenges.

The ISC statement draws attention to mounting obstacles faced by climate researchers worldwide, including significant funding cuts, political pressures, and increasing barriers to data sharing and scientific exchange. These factors not only threaten the pace of scientific discovery but also undermine the credibility and societal value of scientific outputs.

The ISC and its partners—including WDS—reaffirm their commitment to working closely with governments, funding agencies, multilateral institutions, the broader science community, and civil society to protect scientific integrity and promote open, inclusive research environments. By supporting robust international collaboration, the statement calls for renewed investment in climate monitoring systems, greater protection for scientific outputs, and efforts to build public trust in science through transparent practices.

WDS encourages all members of the scientific community, policymakers, and stakeholders to read and share the full ISC statement: https://council.science/statements/climate-science/.

WDS ENDORSES BARCELONA DECLARATION ON OPEN RESEARCH INFORMATION

The World Data System (WDS) is pleased to announce its formal endorsement of the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information (Barcelona Declaration), reinforcing our commitment to open science and responsible data stewardship on a global scale. The Barcelona Declaration is an international call to action that urges research communities, institutions, and organizations to make all scientific outputs—including data, software, and methods—openly available, reusable, and actionable by default. By joining this initiative, WDS aligns itself with a growing coalition dedicated to building transparent, collaborative, and equitable scientific practices across disciplines.

WDS shares the Barcelona Declaration’s vision for accelerating discovery and innovation through open sharing of research products and knowledge. Our endorsement underscores the importance of collective responsibility in making research outputs accessible and useful—not only for the scientific community but for society at large. As part of our ongoing mission, WDS will continue to promote best practices in data management and support efforts that advance global collaboration and reproducibility in science.

We encourage our members and partners to learn more about the Barcelona Declaration and consider how its principles can be integrated into their own activities.

Read the full press release below for additional details on this important development.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OAK RIDGE, TN, 4 March, 2025 –The World Data System (WDS) is excited to announce the release of its 2025-2027 Action Plan. This plan outlines the strategic initiatives and key objectives that will guide WDS’s efforts over the next three years, aiming to enhance global data management and sharing practices. 

The 2025-2027 WDS action plan focuses on several primary goals and objectives, including improving data accessibility, fostering international collaboration, and promoting data-driven decision-making. WDS has updated the action plan with the current state of technological advancements within data, such as artificial intelligence, and keeping in mind that our worldview can be shaped by how we use data. 

Collaboration remains at the forefront of WDS’s mission. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our data systems is a top priority. The action plan outlines strategies for maintaining reliable and impactful data infrastructures.  

To provide a comprehensive overview of these updates, WDS invites all interested parties to join an upcoming webinar: 2025-2027 World Data System Action Plan. This webinar offers an opportunity to connect with WDS leadership and fellow members. David Castle, WDS Scientific Committee Chair, and Suzie Allard, Principal Investigator to the International Program Office, will share their insights into the action plan process and explore the new opportunities arising from the updated objectives.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed about the future direction of the World Data System and how it will impact our global community. 

About the World Data System 

Founded in 2008, the World Data System (WDS) is an affiliated body of the International Science Council (ISC). Its mission is to enhance the capabilities, impact, and sustainability of its member repositories and data services by fostering trusted communities of scientific data repositories. The WDS also aims to strengthen the entire lifecycle of data management, ensuring that high-quality data supports first-class research output. Additionally, it advocates for accessible data along with transparent and reproducible science. 

World Data System International Program Office (WDS-IPO) is hosted by the University of Tennessee at the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. This work is supported by a cooperative agreement (DE-SC0021915) with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Contact WDS-IPO at wds-ipo@utk.edu. 

Media Contact: Cameron Breland, Communications Specialist  cbrelan1@utk.edu 

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